Let us start this now. I deal mainly in the small school programs, and would like to keep the talk going about them. What small schools 2A and under have a quality prospect that may be unknown. These kids work just as hard as those that go to the big schools but never get the exposure.
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You may want to change the title to something like "Small School Prospects", or undoubtedly, you will get talk about some of the '14s who are at the bigger schools who are also deserving.
But, in keeping with your aim for this post... here are two I will mention:
Daniel Brumbaugh, Grapevine Faith Christian
Ty McKinney, Leonard
I agree with you... there are some really talented kids at small schools. The talent is just not nearly as deep 1-20 on the roster, but that doesn't mean the top kids couldn't play at a bigger school...they certainly could.
And if the player/parent/club and HS coach work at it, these kids can get plenty of exposure. Just waiting for people to show up at a high school game is _not_ a good idea.
You really think it matters if 2A or 5A? From my 5A world view if you have a great pitcher the scouts come. If not, they don't. They come to see the kids on the good Summer teams though.
I think foxesbb could help us by defining "quality prospect". Are we talking pro potential? D1 or D1JUCO? or including a lower level of college ball?
The two I mentioned can play at the collegiate level for sure... I am not in a position to project them beyond that.
If you're throwing 90+, chances are you will be found. Pitchers are always the exception moving forward past high school (nothing profound, we just have to look at the MLB draft and how the scholarship schools divvy up their $$).
For the "above average" player, who can play at _some_ level of college ball... you need to do some work, regardless of which school classification you play in.
By quality I mean those that could go and play at the college level.
I was just trying to see who the scouts would be looking at.
Caddo Mills has RHP Cody Nitson and SS Kyle Senter.
I agree with Ty McKinney from Leonard.
Does anyone from the small Tapps schools ever hit anyones radar?
Hey three bagger. My sons team will be playing in various showcases around Texas and Oklahoma this summer. Are there any that are truly betterthan others? He is a catcher with seemingly what it takes but the hit and miss factor seems really high. He will send emails and be aggressive but wondering if you have any insight to push it along.
Fan1960,
When my son was being recruited the showcase that led to him being at the college he's at was the Perfect Game South Top Prospect showcase in McKinney TX. You would have to look on the Perfect Game site to see if it's still held there. His travel team played at Tarleton State and he had several college offers due to that also.
Catchers are watched very closely although a college team usually has about three on the squad. The usual stuff--quickness behind the plate, pop time of under 2.00 and a good bat especially a power bat are the main ingrediants for a small school guy to get noticed. While my guy did hit over .500 his senior year and over .400 his other two years on the varsity, that had really nothing to do with his college recruitment since we live in a small town in south TX. The main thing is to be SEEN by coaches and don't over shoot your expectations by trying to be seen by the top 20 DI's in the nation unless he is so exceptional that schools from all over are recruiting him.
While the Perfect Game showcase is expensive, it was worth it in our case. We also went to free Major League tryout camps from Dallas to San Antonio, to the Valley and to Houston. This got him some Juco offers and got him on some ML teams notice which four years later is paying some dividends we hope.
If your son has exceptional grades and is looking for a high academic college, I would highly recommend http://www.headfirsthonorroll.com/. This a very well run camp and the top academic colleges are in attendance. The camp is expensive, but the quantity and quality of the schools attending, combined with the upside future potential is a priceless investment.
In the end, if baseball can help get your son into a great college and eventually receive a great education, then you have succeeded as a parent! As a parent, we envision our son playing D1 baseball. But when you get right down to it, it is the education that is most important. Please don't count out the D2 and D3 schools. Most high academic colleges are D3 and some have exceptional baseball programs. If Johnny can go to Academic U, get a great education, and play baseball to help keep a mental and physical balance - then that is home run in anyone's score book.
We were in this position last summer. We did the showcase camps, East Cobb, travel tournaments. Then traveled to Long Island last August for Headfirst camp - BINGO! Now my Johnny is going to one of top colleges in country (not D1), and will be playing baseball. Most D3 schools have lots of academic scholarship/financial aid money. Explore all options. Have a great summer!
Thank you guys for all your help. Great information. The 1.9's were last August before he turned 17. I am going to take this info and run headlong into the tournament season along with a showcase or two. ACT results are in waiting for SAT and hoping his team will go deep into some tournaments. Please feel free to send any more suggestions or advice. We are our kids biggest fans and supporter, just trying to be healthy about it. NOT my first instinct.
But when you get right down to it, it is the education that is most important.
^^^^
This! Over 50% of athletes don't ever make it past their freshman year of collegiate athletics.
Find a school that he can get a good education and maybe play some ball. Think about the future.
